Peter J. Leithart on Shakespeare for Lent :
Lent is a time of renunciation and fasting, spiritual striving, self-examination, contrition, and penitence. It seems a grim and black season of self-accusation. But thats all superficial. Lent is better understood as a season of Christian comedy. Its not the glum waiting before the comedy of resurrection begins. Lent is the darkened path that winds toward the rising sun.
Also today, Anna Williams on the myth of government neutrality :
Should a government in a pluralist society such as the United States be neutral with respect to religious and secular ideas about the good life? Or should it promote a certain vision? Most Americans, recognizing that a government-sponsored philosophy would conflict with many citizens cherished beliefs (and possibly violate the establishment clause), would say that the government should be neutral.
You have a decision to make: double or nothing.
For this week only, a generous supporter has offered to fully match all new and increased donations to First Things up to $60,000.
In other words, your gift of $50 unlocks $100 for First Things, your gift of $100 unlocks $200, and so on, up to a total of $120,000. But if you don’t give, nothing.
So what will it be, dear reader: double, or nothing?
Make your year-end gift go twice as far for First Things by giving now.